线粒体自噬的研究进展

Progress in Mitophagy

由于线粒体在生物氧化和能量转换过程中会产生活性氧,线粒体DNA又比核DNA更容易发生突变,因此线粒体是一种比较容易受到损伤的细胞器。及时清除细胞内受损的线粒体对细胞维持正常的状态具有重要的作用。细胞主要通过自噬来清除损伤线粒体,维持细胞稳态。越来越多的研究表明,线粒体自噬是一种特异性的过程,线粒体通透性孔道通透性的改变在这个过程中起着重要的作用。线粒体自噬在维持细胞内线粒体的正常功能和基因组稳定性上起着重要作用,但是线粒体发生自噬的信号通路及其调控机制还有待进一步深入研究。

As reactive oxygen species （ROS） is a by-product of mitochondrial metabolism and mitochondrial DNA is more susceptible to oxidative damage than nuclear DNA, mitochondria are especially more prone to be damaged than other organelles. Timely elimination of aged and damaged mitochondria is essential to maintain the health of cells. The unhealthy mitochondria are mainly cleared by autophagy. Increasing evidence indicates that this is a selectively process termed mitophagy. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore plays important role in mitophagy. Mitophagy may play an essential role in maintaining mitochondrial function and genetic integrity, but its mechanism needs further investigation.